Sir Alex Ferguson to hang up his boots at Manchester United

After 13 league titles in 26 years with Manchester United, Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson, English football’s most successful manager, is to retire. A legend in pictures.

Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates with the English Premier League trophy on 22 May 2011. Fergie will retire at the end of the season after the West Bromwich Albion game on 19 May, Manchester United has announced. AFP

Announcing his retirement, Sir Alex said: “In my early years, the backing of the board, and Sir Bobby Charlton in particular, gave me the confidence and time to build a football club, rather than just a football team.” 5 January 2013 photo. Reuters

After his retirement, the most successful manager in English football history with over 30 trophies during his time in charge of the Reds, is to become a director of Manchester United FC. Picture dates back to 20 May 2008. Reuters

Ferguson earned his reputation as a top coach at Pittodrie where he broke the Glasgow dominance of Scottish football to lead Aberdeen to three Scottish titles, four Scottish cups, one League Cup and one European Cup Winners’ Cup. AFP

Fergie waves a finger at Steve Bennett during their English Premier League match on 23 September 2007. When he joined United on 6 November 1986, he inherited a team of underachievers stuck in the bottom four of Division one. Reuters

Alex Ferguson receiving an honorary doctorate at Stirling University in Stirling, Scotland on 29 June 2011. His greatest achievement came in 1998/99 when United won the treble of Premiership title, FA Cup and European Cup. Reuters